Population
Need for assistance
About this topic
Need for assistance measures people who report needing help with self-care, body movement, or communication because of a disability, a long-term health condition, or older age. It is a high-needs indicator rather than a general measure of disability.
This topic is useful for planning accessible facilities, care services, respite, and support for carers. The measure is based on self-report in the Census, so it should be interpreted with care and read alongside unpaid care and other disability-related indicators.
Interpretation notes
- The measure is self-reported and records need for help with core activities, so it is not a complete measure of disability prevalence.
- It applies to all persons and is strongest as an indicator of higher support need when read with unpaid care and ageing data.
Key insight
In 2021, 75-84 year olds was the most common age group among residents who needed assistance with core activities in Richmond Valley (A), accounting for 18.6% (345 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (18.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 5-14 year olds, which increased by 64 people and 1.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Need for assistance with core activities by age
Richmond Valley (A) - Persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises need for assistance for Richmond Valley (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Need for assistance with core activities by age snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Richmond Valley (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Bars reflect 2021 counts; benchmark rates remain in the metrics.
0-4
2021 count
16
2021 rate
1.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
16
1.3%
0.0pp
5-14
2021 count
206
2021 rate
6.6%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
206
6.6%
+1.9pp
15-19
2021 count
76
2021 rate
5.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
76
5.6%
+0.7pp
20-24
2021 count
52
2021 rate
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
52
4.3%
+0.4pp
25-34
2021 count
78
2021 rate
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
78
3.4%
-0.5pp
35-44
2021 count
72
2021 rate
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
72
3.1%
-0.7pp
45-54
2021 count
129
2021 rate
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
129
4.6%
-0.9pp
55-64
2021 count
221
2021 rate
6.6%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
221
6.6%
-1.2pp
65-74
2021 count
328
2021 rate
10.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
328
10.0%
-0.7pp
75-84
2021 count
345
2021 rate
18.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
345
18.6%
+0.6pp
85+
2021 count
336
2021 rate
43.9%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
336
43.9%
-4.2pp
Chart view
Need for assistance with core activities by age change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
0-4
-2
0.0pp
5-14
+64
+1.9pp
15-19
+3
+0.7pp
20-24
+9
+0.4pp
25-34
0
-0.5pp
35-44
-23
-0.7pp
45-54
-33
-0.9pp
55-64
-38
-1.2pp
65-74
+28
-0.7pp
75-84
+44
+0.6pp
85+
+31
-4.2pp
Data table
Need for assistance for Richmond Valley (A). Need for assistance with core activities by age. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| 0-4 | 16 | 1.3% | 1.6% | 18 | 1.3% | 1.3% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| 5-14 | 206 | 6.6% | 5.2% | 142 | 4.7% | 3.8% | +64 | +1.9pp |
| 15-19 | 76 | 5.6% | 4.2% | 73 | 4.9% | 3.2% | +3 | +0.7pp |
| 20-24 | 52 | 4.3% | 3.4% | 43 | 3.9% | 2.6% | +9 | +0.4pp |
| 25-34 | 78 | 3.4% | 2.6% | 78 | 3.9% | 2.4% | 0 | -0.5pp |
| 35-44 | 72 | 3.1% | 2.8% | 95 | 3.8% | 3.0% | -23 | -0.7pp |
| 45-54 | 129 | 4.6% | 4.2% | 162 | 5.5% | 4.4% | -33 | -0.9pp |
| 55-64 | 221 | 6.6% | 6.0% | 259 | 7.8% | 6.2% | -38 | -1.2pp |
| 65-74 | 328 | 10.0% | 9.1% | 300 | 10.7% | 8.7% | +28 | -0.7pp |
| 75-84 | 345 | 18.6% | 18.9% | 301 | 18.0% | 17.8% | +44 | +0.6pp |
| 85+ | 336 | 43.9% | 46.5% | 305 | 48.1% | 43.8% | +31 | -4.2pp |
| Total | 1,863 | 7.9% | 6.8% | 1,779 | 7.8% | 6.3% | +84 | +0.1pp |